Former LSU QB Zach Mettenberger named Father Ryan Football's Head Coach
Former LSU and Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been named newest head football coach at Father Ryan High in Nashville, Tenn.
Mettenberger, who was on the LSU football roster from 2011-13, passed for just short of 5,700 yards with 34 touchdowns thrown during his two years as the starting quarterback for the Tigers.
Mettenberger was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2014, and he started multiple NFL games during his two seasons with the franchise before making stops with the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
By 2020, Mettenberger turned his focus to coaching as the offensive coordinator at Hillsboro High in Tennessee. From there, he served as an assistant coach with Father Ryan before spending two seasons as an analyst on Nick Saban’s staff in 2022 and 2023. He returned to Father Ryan ahead of the 2024 season, and now – with preparations beginning for the 2025 season this fall – Mettenberger has been promoted to head coach.
“I’m excited about the opportunity for my first head coaching opportunity and to be around such great people,” Mettenberger, whose mother, Tammy, was a longtime Georgia football administrative assistant, told FootballScoop. “I want to be a head coach and this is a great chance to get to see what I’m made of.
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“There’s really good people around here, and I believe there’s a foundation to build a real powerhouse program. We’re excited.”
Father Ryan Athletics Director Ann Mullins shared the following statement:
“I am confident that Coach Mettenberger will build upon the strong foundation established by the coaches before him, leading our student-athletes to new heights both on and off the field. His passion for the game, commitment to developing young athletes and leadership qualities make him the right person to guide our football program into the future.”
While Mettenberger said he mulled over a number of different career paths, the chance to lead a high school football team is one that takes him back to his days in the Peach State – long before he as he carved out a path to playing in college and the pros.
“I always go back to why any of us chooses any sport we pursue: we found something fun and fell in love with it,” said the married father of two. “At the end of the day, it’s still a kid’s game. We’ve messed with the purity of football in so many ways, and I want kids to have fun, show up and work hard, no question, but go do that hard work when you’re having fun with your buddies.”
